NSFAS University Funding 2027
How NSFAS funding works for university students
NSFAS can fund eligible students studying approved certificate and undergraduate qualifications at South Africa’s public universities. Funding depends on financial eligibility, the qualification, registration and continued academic eligibility.
As of 17 August 2026, the latest complete NSFAS eligibility policy is for the 2026 academic year. This page uses those current rules to help 2027 students prepare. Income thresholds, allowance amounts, academic rules and funded qualifications should be checked again when NSFAS publishes the 2027 criteria.
Under the latest NSFAS bursary rules, university funding is available to qualifying South African citizens and permanent residents studying an approved first certificate or undergraduate qualification at a public university. The current general household income ceiling is R350,000 per year, or R600,000 for an applicant with a disability. Continuing non-FTEN university students currently need to pass at least 50% of their registered modules to remain eligible for funding in the following academic year.
University admission and NSFAS funding are two separate processes. A student can meet the financial requirements for NSFAS but still need to satisfy the university’s admission requirements for the qualification.
If you have not applied for funding yet, start with NSFAS Applications 2027 .
Who Qualifies for NSFAS University Funding?
The final 2027 rules are still to come. Under the current bursary criteria, a university applicant generally needs to meet the following conditions.
NSFAS funding depends on the qualification being approved for funding and on the student meeting the financial and academic requirements.
Which Universities Does NSFAS Fund?
NSFAS bursary funding applies at South Africa’s public universities.
It does not normally fund students registered at private colleges or private universities through the standard DHET bursary scheme.
The important point is not only whether the institution is public. The qualification itself must also be eligible for NSFAS funding.
Which University Qualifications Does NSFAS Fund?
Under the current bursary policy, university students must generally be studying towards their first certificate or first undergraduate qualification.
Current university-funded qualifications are accredited by the Council on Higher Education, registered on the National Qualifications Framework and approved for NSFAS bursary funding.
The current policy includes qualifying Higher Certificate and National Higher Certificate programmes.
Current funded undergraduate categories include approved Advanced Certificates, Diplomas and National Diplomas that meet the applicable credit and registration requirements.
Approved first-degree qualifications at this level can fall within the bursary funding framework.
The current bursary framework includes qualifying first-degree programmes registered at NQF Level 8.
A qualification being offered by a public university does not mean it is automatically funded under the normal NSFAS bursary.
Does NSFAS fund a second undergraduate degree?
Normally no. The current university bursary route is aimed at the student’s first certificate or undergraduate qualification and uses approved academic progression pathways.
Can NSFAS fund a Higher Certificate and then a degree?
The current university progression pathway allows movement from an approved certificate qualification to an approved undergraduate qualification, provided the student continues to satisfy the NSFAS rules.
Does NSFAS Fund Postgraduate University Study?
The normal NSFAS bursary does not fund qualifications above NQF Level 8 under the current policy.
Students looking for funding for qualifying postgraduate studies should check whether they fall under the separate NSFAS student loan scheme or another postgraduate funding programme.
See our NSFAS Student Loan 2027 guide for the missing-middle loan route and its postgraduate funding rules.
The NSFAS Student Loan has different household-income requirements, academic conditions and repayment obligations from the normal NSFAS bursary.
NSFAS University Income Requirements
Combined annual household income must currently be R350,000 or less for non-SASSA applicants, except for the disability threshold.
The current financial eligibility ceiling is R600,000 combined annual household income for an applicant living with a disability.
What if you receive a SASSA grant?
Under the current criteria, an applicant validated as a qualifying SASSA recipient automatically meets the NSFAS financial eligibility test.
The student must still be academically eligible, registered at an eligible public institution and studying an approved qualification.
A student can meet the income threshold but still have a problem if the programme is not funded, registration is incorrect or academic eligibility has been lost.
How University Registration and NSFAS Work
NSFAS application approval does not complete university registration. The university still needs to register the student for the correct qualification and send the relevant registration information to NSFAS.
Apply directly to the public universities where you want to study.
Complete the funding application through myNSFAS during the official application window.
Follow the university’s registration instructions if you are accepted.
Make sure the qualification on your university record is the one you are actually studying.
The university must provide NSFAS with accurate registration and academic information.
Funding and allowances can then be processed according to the student’s eligibility and registration information.
Do NSFAS University Students Pay a Registration Fee?
Under the current policy, a financially eligible NSFAS bursary recipient registered for an approved funded qualification should not be required to pay the initial registration fee.
The registration fee is included in the tuition cost funded by NSFAS.
A student whose funding status has not yet been confirmed may need to resolve the funding record with the university financial aid office and NSFAS.
What Does NSFAS University Funding Cover?
NSFAS pays approved tuition costs for the funded qualification according to the applicable university fee structure and funding rules.
The initial registration cost forms part of the tuition funding for an eligible NSFAS-funded student.
Current university rules provide one learning-material allowance per academic year.
Qualifying contact students can receive a living allowance depending on their accommodation arrangement.
Qualifying students studying away from home can receive approved student accommodation funding.
Qualifying students who do not receive accommodation support can instead qualify for transport according to the applicable rules.
The current policy allows the student to qualify for either transport or accommodation according to their circumstances.
NSFAS University Allowances 2027
Official 2027 university allowance amounts have not yet been published.
The current university funding structure includes:
- Learning material allowance.
- Living allowance.
- Accommodation or transport.
- Applicable disability support.
- Specific personal care support for qualifying distance students.
Do not use old 2025 or 2026 rand amounts as confirmed 2027 figures.
See NSFAS Allowances 2027 for the full allowance guide.
NSFAS University Accommodation
Qualifying university students can receive accommodation funding where their accommodation arrangement meets the applicable NSFAS and institution rules.
Accommodation can include:
- University-owned residences.
- University-leased accommodation.
- Approved private student accommodation.
- NSFAS-accredited private accommodation where the NSFAS accommodation system applies.
The accommodation must meet the applicable approval and accreditation requirements. Students should confirm the property’s status before signing an agreement or moving in.
When can private accommodation be used?
The current university responsibilities state that universities should allow students to consider private accommodation where university residences are full or where the university does not have residential facilities.
Does accommodation include meals?
It depends on whether the residence is catered or self-catering.
Under the current policy, a student in a catered residence can have living and personal-care support incorporated into the designated catered accommodation funding arrangement.
A qualifying student not living in catered accommodation can instead receive the applicable living allowance for food and incidental expenses.
Does NSFAS Fund UNISA and Distance University Students?
Yes, qualifying students studying through an eligible non-contact public university can receive NSFAS bursary funding, but their allowance structure differs from contact students.
Under the current rules, a distance university student studying less than 60% of a full academic credit load qualifies for the learning material allowance only.
A distance university student registered for an equivalent full-time load of at least 120 credits can qualify for the applicable personal care allowance.
The current policy reduces the learning material allowance by 50% where a distance student is registered for only one semester.
Distance students should not expect the same accommodation, transport and living structure used for contact university students.
Distance allowances are linked to the number of modules or course credits for which the student is registered.
NSFAS University Academic Requirements
Getting NSFAS in first year does not mean funding continues regardless of academic performance.
Under the current 2026 eligibility policy, a non-FTEN university student must pass 50% of the total modules registered in the academic year to remain eligible for NSFAS funding in the following academic year.
This threshold should be checked again once NSFAS publishes the 2027 academic criteria.
A university can have its own academic progression requirements for continuing in a qualification. If the institution itself refuses academic progression, that issue must be dealt with through the university’s academic process.
How the NSFAS N+ Rule Works at University
The N+ rule places an outer limit on how long NSFAS can fund a student to complete a qualification.
N means the minimum time normally required to complete the qualification.
The current 2026 NSFAS policy provides one additional funded academic term or period beyond the minimum qualification duration, subject to the applicable rules.
Under the current policy, students with disabilities qualify for two additional periods within the applicable N+ framework.
Example of N+1
If the normal minimum duration of a degree is three years, N is three. The N+ rule then determines the additional funding period available under the NSFAS rules.
Changing qualifications can therefore affect how much funded study time remains.
Distance university N period
Under the current policy, the N period for a student studying through a non-contact university is calculated as double the minimum time required to complete the qualification.
What Happens If You Change University Courses?
Changing individual modules is not necessarily the same as changing your qualification.
If you change to a different qualification, the remaining N period becomes important.
Under the current rules, if the remaining funded study period is not long enough to complete the new qualification, NSFAS can stop funding the student.
Do not assume that starting another degree resets your NSFAS funding clock.
Moving From TVET College to University
A student changing institution type from a TVET college to a university must currently reapply for NSFAS funding.
A student starting a university qualification for the first time after completing a TVET qualification can currently be treated as a first-time entering university student for the university funding rules.
A continuing university student who remains eligible generally does not submit a new first-time application every year, while a student moving between TVET and university sectors must reapply under the current policy.
University Registration Not Showing on NSFAS
This is one of the most important university funding problems to understand.
NSFAS relies on universities to submit:
- Your registration details.
- The qualification for which you are registered.
- Your academic and results information.
- Your academic eligibility information.
- Information showing when you graduate or leave the institution.
If your university has not submitted your registration record, or has submitted the wrong registration record, contact the university financial aid or registration office.
Under the current NSFAS appeal rules, these registration-data problems must be directed to the institution so that the university can correct its information.
| Problem | Who should fix it? | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| No university registration showing | University | Ask whether your registration record has been submitted to NSFAS. |
| Wrong qualification sent | University | Ask the institution to correct the qualification information sent to NSFAS. |
| Wrong academic results | University first | Confirm the official academic results and whether corrected data has been submitted. |
| NSFAS rejected funding after correct data | NSFAS | Read the actual funding rejection reason and check whether an appeal is available. |
| Allowance delayed after registration | University and NSFAS | Check registration data, funding status and the institution’s payment process. |
For tracking the funding outcome, see NSFAS Status Check 2027 .
What If the University Will Not Let You Progress?
A university academic progression decision is different from an NSFAS funding rejection.
If the university itself has decided that you cannot progress academically, the current NSFAS policy says the academic appeal must be directed to the institution.
Appeal to NSFAS when NSFAS has made an appealable funding decision. Use the university’s academic appeal process when the university has made the academic progression decision.
See NSFAS Appeal 2027 for funding appeal rules.
When Can NSFAS University Funding Stop?
NSFAS can withdraw or discontinue funding when the student no longer meets the funding conditions.
Under the current rules, reasons can include:
- Failing to meet financial eligibility.
- Failing to meet academic eligibility.
- Exceeding the applicable N+ limit.
- Deregistering or dropping out.
- Fraud or false information.
- Being funded in error.
- Unresolved dual registration at different institutions.
- Changing to a qualification that cannot be completed within the remaining funded period.
- Receiving full funding from another source.
What if you receive another bursary?
Under the current rules, a student who receives a full bursary from another funder must notify NSFAS.
If the new funding covers the full study cost, NSFAS funding can be withdrawn to prevent duplicate full funding.
Partial funding can also affect the amount NSFAS pays.
Universities are required to identify funding from multiple sources and provide relevant information to NSFAS.
Approved but No University Allowance
If NSFAS shows that you are funded but your university allowance has not arrived, check the process in this order:
- Confirm that your university registration is complete.
- Ask whether the correct registration record was sent to NSFAS.
- Check your current NSFAS status.
- Confirm which allowance you qualify for.
- Check whether your university or another approved channel is responsible for the payment.
- Check accommodation information if the problem involves residence funding.
- Follow any banking process issued by your university or NSFAS where applicable.
For payment troubleshooting, see NSFAS Allowances 2027 .
For banking-related problems, see NSFAS Banking Details 2027 .
University NSFAS Checklist for 2027
- Apply separately to your chosen public universities.
- Apply for NSFAS during the official application period.
- Check that your qualification is eligible for funding.
- Prepare your NSFAS supporting documents.
- Monitor your myNSFAS funding status.
- Complete university registration when admitted.
- Make sure the university registers the correct qualification.
- Check whether your registration data has reached NSFAS.
- Confirm your accommodation status before assuming NSFAS will pay it.
- Know which allowance categories apply to you.
- Keep track of your module pass rate if you are a continuing student.
- Check your remaining N+ funding period before changing qualifications.
Useful NSFAS Guides
Visit the NSFAS category for application, university funding, status, documents, appeals, allowances, banking and student loan information.
NSFAS University Funding Questions
Does NSFAS fund university students in 2027?
NSFAS is expected to continue funding qualifying students at public universities, but the final 2027 eligibility criteria have not yet been published as of 17 August 2026.
Which universities are funded by NSFAS?
Normal NSFAS bursary funding applies at South Africa’s public universities. Private higher education institutions are not funded through the normal NSFAS DHET bursary scheme.
Does NSFAS fund any course at a public university?
No. The qualification must be an approved NSFAS-funded qualification. Being registered at a public university by itself does not guarantee that the programme is funded.
Which university qualifications does NSFAS currently fund?
The current bursary policy includes approved first certificate and undergraduate qualifications within the applicable NQF Level 5 to Level 8 categories.
Does NSFAS fund a second degree?
The normal current university bursary route is aimed at a student’s first certificate or undergraduate qualification and does not normally fund a second undergraduate qualification.
Does NSFAS fund postgraduate degrees?
The normal bursary does not fund qualifications above NQF Level 8 under the current rules. Qualifying students can check the separate NSFAS Student Loan or other postgraduate funding options.
What is the NSFAS university income limit?
The current general bursary household income ceiling is R350,000 per year. The current ceiling for an applicant living with a disability is R600,000 per year.
Do SASSA recipients qualify for university NSFAS funding?
A qualifying SASSA recipient currently automatically meets the financial eligibility test, but still needs to satisfy the academic, qualification, institution and registration requirements.
Do NSFAS students have to pay a university registration fee?
Under the current policy, financially eligible NSFAS bursary students registered for an approved funded programme should not be required to pay the initial registration fee because it forms part of the funded tuition cost.
What does NSFAS cover at university?
Current university funding can include tuition, registration, learning materials, living support and either accommodation or transport, subject to the applicable student circumstances and annual funding rules.
Can I receive both NSFAS accommodation and transport?
No. Under the current university funding structure, students qualify for either accommodation or transport according to their circumstances, not both for the same period.
Does NSFAS pay for private university accommodation?
NSFAS can fund qualifying private student accommodation where it meets the applicable accreditation and approval requirements.
Does NSFAS fund UNISA students?
Qualifying distance university students can receive NSFAS funding, but their allowance structure differs from contact university students.
What does a UNISA student studying less than 60% of full credits receive?
Under the current rules, a distance university student studying less than 60% of a full academic credit load qualifies for the learning material allowance only.
How many credits are needed for the distance personal care allowance?
Under the current policy, a distance university student must be registered for at least 120 course credits in one academic year to qualify for the applicable personal care allowance.
What percentage must a university student pass to keep NSFAS?
Under the current 2026 policy, a non-FTEN university student must pass at least 50% of the total registered modules in the academic year to remain eligible for funding in the following academic year.
What is the NSFAS N+ rule for university students?
Under the current policy, the general funding-duration rule is N+1. N represents the minimum qualification duration. Students with disabilities currently qualify for N+2.
Does changing degrees reset the NSFAS N+ rule?
No. Changing qualifications does not simply restart NSFAS funding. The remaining N period is considered, and funding can stop if the remaining period is not enough to complete the new qualification.
Do I need to reapply when moving from TVET to university?
Yes. Under the current NSFAS rules, students changing institution type from a TVET college to a university must reapply for funding.
What if my university registration is not showing at NSFAS?
Contact the university and ask whether it submitted your correct registration record to NSFAS. Current NSFAS rules place responsibility for supplying accurate registration information on the institution.
Can I appeal to NSFAS if my university sent the wrong registration?
Not through the normal NSFAS appeal route. The current NSFAS rules state that missing or incorrect institutional registration records must be corrected with the university.
Why am I funded but have not received a university allowance?
Check whether your registration information has reached NSFAS, which allowance you qualify for, your accommodation information and the payment process being used by your university or NSFAS.
NSFAS University Help
University funding or registration problem?
If the problem involves your course, academic record or registration data, contact the university financial aid or registration office. If the registration information is correct but the NSFAS funding decision is still wrong, contact NSFAS and check your myNSFAS account.
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